John E. Cleveland Jr., age 72, of Blanket, Texas was received by his Lord and Savior on January 29, 2025. He now holds his loving son, Colby, in his arms.
Johnny was born on November 29, 1952, to John Cleveland, and wife Marie Cox, in Comanche, Texas.
His first fourteen years were spent at the Dudley Brother’s Ranch while attending Comanche I.S.D. His family moved to Brownwood, which was not a good move for Johnny, after being raised in the country. Johnny then worked at Buck Williams Station pumping gas and breaking horses. He attended Blanket High School during his junior and senior years where he participated in FFA rodeos and judging contests, until graduating in 1973.
He married Pam Nabers in 1975, and shortly after moved to East Texas to work on various ranches. In 1980, they welcomed their daughter, Jennifer Ruth. After moving west, near Abilene, they welcomed their son, Matthew Colby, in 1984.
In 1986 they built their forever home on family land near Blanket, Texas where he worked various jobs. This would be the place that they would build the rest of their life raising their two children and making too many friends to count. After working at Superior Cable, Johnny decided to work for himself building metal buildings, operating heavy equipment, shoeing horses, and day working on numerous ranches.
Johnny was not afraid of taking on a new task. His theory was “If you get tired of what you’re doing, find something else you like to do”. He was a man of many talents. He loved his family, friends, and was devoted to being a good steward of the land and his animals. Johnny was what you would call The Real Cowboy, there are not many of them left. He said he got a great horse every 20 years. His last horse, Cowboy, was the best of all. Johnny was a man that you could rely on to do what he said, show up, and he was always good for a story and a laugh.
Johnny was proceeded in death by his son, Colby, parents, and sister-in-law, Beverly Reid.
He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Pam, daughter, Jennifer Raffel, husband Ricky, grandsons Brayden (Slim) and Maddix (Curly) of Early, Texas. In laws, Kenneth and Colline Nabers, brothers Bill and James Cleveland, sisters Linda Lindly and Janet Dean, sister-in-law Janna McBee, husband Johnny, brother-in-law Ken Nabers, wife Theresa, and brother-in-law David Reid.
There will be the opportunity to pay respects on Saturday February 1st held at Blaylock Funeral Home.
Johnny’s Cowboy Gathering will be held on Sunday February 2nd, 2pm, fittingly at the Cleveland barn. This gathering will be a celebration of life to honor “The Legend”. You are welcome to bring a chair and beverages of your choice where we will share an afternoon of stories and memories.